Clifford Harper: What is Government?

An extract from the anarchist graphics of Clifford Harper. (Text: Pierre-Joseph Proudhon, Confessions of a Revolutionary, 1849)
October '22

VIA: Adam Cornford, ”The Education of Desire: The Anarchist Graphics of Clifford Harper”, Annares Co-Operative, 1984.


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– WHOEVER LAYS THEIR HAND ON ME,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– IS A USURPER AND A TYRANT,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– I DECLARE THEM TO BE MY ENEMY…

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– GOVERNMENT IS A SLAVERY.


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– ITS LAWS ARE COBWEBS FOR THE RICH,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– AND CHAINS OF STEEL FOR THE POOR.


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– TO BE GOVERNED IS TO BE WATCHED, INSPECTED, SPIED ON,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– REGULATED, INDOCTRINATED, PREACHED AT, CONTROLLED, RULED,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– CENSORED BY PERSONS WHO HAVE NEITHER WISDOM NOR VIRTUE.

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– IT IS IN EVERY ACTION AND TRANSACTION


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– TO BE REGISTERED, STAMPED,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– TAXED, PATENTED, LICENSED, ASSESSED,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– MEASURED, REPRIMANDED, CORRECTED, FRUSTRATED,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– UNDER PRETEXT OF THE PUBLIC GOOD IT IS TO BE EXPLOITED,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– MONOPOLISED, EMBEZZLED, ROBBED, AND THAN,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– AT THE LEAST PROTEST OR WORD OF COMPLAINT,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– TO BE FINED, HARRASED, VILIFIED,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– BEATEN UP, BLUDGEONED, DISARMED,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– JUDGED, CONDEMNED, IMPRISONED,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– SHOT, GARROTED,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– DEPORTED, SOLD, BETRAYED,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– SWINDLED, DECEIVED,


WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– OUTRAGED, DISHONOURED,

WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?
– THAT’S GOVERNMENT, THAT’S ITS JUSTICE,

THAT’S ITS MORALITY! ✪


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